Finding Home

Chapter One

Puh-Pop.

My fists slammed into the punching bag, the sound echoing through the empty training room. My legs were shaky and threatening to give out beneath me, but I forced myself to stay standing; I wouldn't get a break if I was ever in an actual fight. The aching in my legs though also brought me happiness, because it marked my completion of a five-mile run just minutes earlier. I couldn't believe how far I had come in the past few months.

One of the doors swished open, and I almost missed the soft sound. A familiar man stepped in, reminding me that my progress was all thanks to a motivational trainer who also happened to be one of my best friends.

"Hey Rhea!" He called out, waving at me with his usual grin.

I dropped out of my stance and smiled back at him. "Hey Dante. I was just finishing up."

Dante moved towards me and chuckled, shaking his head. "I highly doubt that."

I merely shook my head in response and began pulling off the tape I had wrapped around my hands. Dante was right, I hadn't planned on quitting, but even I needed a break sometimes. Besides, judging by the soft chatter coming from the hall, it was almost breakfast, and I wasn't a fan of training when other people were around.

When Dante got closer to me he reached out and flicked my braid and my hair swung across my back. I frowned at him and tilted my body just slightly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Something tells me you don't want me here?" He replied with a smirk.

I shrugged, raising my eyebrows in an attempt not to smile back "Maybe I don't."

Dante grasped his chest above his heart and feigned pain. "Oh Rhea. You hurt me so with your words."

Finished unwrapping my hands, I tossed the ball of tape into the trashcan and moved towards the doors to the shower rooms.

"Not much of a talker today are you? Oh well, I can talk for the both of us. I saw your father this morning, he didn't look happy about something. I'm assuming, though, it's because The Guards are coming back today."

I froze and turned my head to look at Dante over my shoulder.

"Don't play with me Dante," I warned, but his face was serious for a few moments before it split into a grin.

"That means Kai is coming back," He teased in a sing-song voice.

I turned and socked him in the arm, making him wince.

"Jerk," He murmured under his breath.

I rolled my eyes and turned away from him. I couldn't believe I had forgotten about The Guards' return, I usually knew everything they did and when they did it.

"I'm going to take a shower. Wait for me and I'll come to The Doors with you."

Dante said nothing, which I took as an agreement and slipped into the women's shower room. I took a towel from the rack as I went and placed it over the shower rod when I got to the showers. I flipped the water on, letting it warm up as I peeled out of my clothes. Steam curled from the water as I stepped beneath the stream. Someone had left a bottle of soap and I quickly scrubbed my hair and body, rinsing off just as the water turned off.

They said we had to conserve the water so it didn't run out, even though they assured us we had more than enough. But I knew better. I had heard the talk, and I knew that we were running dangerously low on water. Rumor around The Council was they were looking into digging a new well.